Microsoft kicks off campaign for Windows 8, its Surface tablet, at NY event

10/25/2012 12:53 EDT
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Updated
12/25/2012 05:12 EST

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Microsoft kicked off a campaign for its newest operating system, Windows 8, at a five-hour event at New York's Pier 57. Designed to run on both PCs and tablet computers, Windows 8 heralds the biggest change to the industry's dominant operating system in at least 17 years.

Windows 8 attempts to bridge the gap between personal computers and fast-growing tablets with its touch-enabled interface.

The launch event came amid a slew of other tablet offerings ahead of the holidays. Apple Inc. unveiled its iPad Mini with a 7.9-inch screen on Tuesday. Amazon.com Inc. and Barnes & Noble Inc., makers of the 7-inch Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, are coming out with larger versions next month.

The Windows event in New York also marked the launch of the software company's Surface tablet, its first venture into making computer devices. The device goes on sale Friday, as will computers and other tablets running Windows 8. Wedge Partners analyst Kirk Adams expects Microsoft to trail its rivals in fourth-quarter tablet sales.

One factor that might dampen enthusiasm for the Surface is its price — $599 with its touch keyboard cover — and its availability for purchase only from a limited number of Microsoft stores and online, Adams said. He said consumers may be reluctant to buy the device until they can try it in person.

Meanwhile, most analysts believe companies and governments will hold off on upgrading to Windows 8 for at least another year. About half of business users still haven't upgraded to Windows 7 from Windows XP, which came out in 2001.

XP also marked the last time Microsoft had a huge launch campaign for Windows. Microsoft also came to New York then, holding an event at a Times Square hotel. Releases of Windows Vista and 7 since then were more subdued.

Here's a running account of the Windows 8 event, presented in reverse chronological order. All times are EDT.

Included with Windows 8 is a new version of Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer 10. Microsoft says it's "perfect for touch" and will be designed to work seamlessly with its Internet-based storage service, SkyDrive. It's similar to how the latest version of Apple's Safari browser on Mac computers works with its iCloud storage service. In the case of Apple, Web pages open on other machines logged in with the same account can be easily accessed.

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12:30 p.m.

One of the biggest changes with Windows 8 is the disappearance of the familiar start button at the lower left corner of the screen. It has been used to pull up a menu of applications and settings, and to shut down or restart the computer. Instead, people will have to swipe the edges of the screen.

There will be a new screen filled with a colorful array of tiles, each leading to a different application, task or collection of files.

Reached off stage, Ballmer was asked by The Associated Press whether there was any chance of bringing back the start button.

"You've got a whole screen as a start button," he said, referring to the screen of tiles.

At least one PC maker is restoring the start button in an effort to minimize the potential frustration caused by Windows 8's new look. Samsung Electronics Co. has announced models in which it built its own, optional start button that could be used to pull up a menu of applications.

During the presentation, a Microsoft executive had noted that the start button was something people had to get used to when it was first introduced, suggesting that people will get used to the new tile format, too.

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12:20 p.m.

The keynote has ended, although the launch event continues. Microsoft plans to return at 1:30 p.m. with a presentation on Surface.

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12:15 p.m.

Ballmer said outside developers have been working "fast and furiously" to make apps for Windows. He said developers have praised how they can write the same app for a variety of devices — desktops, laptops and tablets.

"Windows 8 PCs really are the best PCs ever," he concluded.

He encouraged people to visit a store to try Windows 8 themselves.

"Seeing, touching, clicking and swiping really is believing," he said.

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12:10 p.m.

Ballmer talked about the phone version of Windows, known as Windows Phone 8. There's an event planned Monday.

"I can't wait to show you how we've really reinvented the smartphone around you," he said.

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12:05 p.m.

In telling people that their relationship with machines will change, Ballmer said, "Picture your start screen filled with everyone and everybody who's most important to you."

He added, "Windows 8 will help you do everything and will make it a lot of fun, frankly, to do ... nothing."

He said people will have several devices to choose from, including new designs that combine the best of PCs and tablets.

Ballmer said Windows 8 will also have a range of tools, including built-in search, news, finance, sports and other apps powered by Bing, Microsoft's search engine.

Bing has been struggling to compete with Google's search engine. Having it prominent in Windows 8 could help boost traffic to it.

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Noon

Ballmer appeared on stage.

"Windows 8 shatters perceptions of what a PC now really is," he said. "We've truly reimagined Windows and kicked off a new era of Microsoft and for our customers."

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11:55 a.m.

Microsoft showed off five devices running Windows RT, a lightweight version of Windows 8. Unlike the full version, RT can run only apps developed for it and obtained from the Windows online store.

One of them was the Surface. Other machines shown included ones from Dell Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and AsusTek Computer Inc.

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11:50 a.m.

The event was being held in a cavernous former bus depot, with more than 500 people in the audience. Pier 57 is located on the Hudson River, near the city's Meatpacking District.

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11:45 a.m.

There have been few surprises, as Microsoft announced the release date and made preview versions available long ago. Microsoft's stock climbed 3 cents to $27.93 in midday trading. Trading volume was low, less than half of the average.

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11:40 a.m

Larson-Green and Angiulo appeared on stage to demonstrate a Windows 8 machine upgraded with Windows 7 devices.

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11:35 a.m.

Microsoft announced the grand opening of its Windows online store, modeled after Apple's iTunes store. It will sell apps and content for Windows machines.

The store will be open in 231 markets around the world. (Companies typically restrict sales to specific markets, as some content may not be available worldwide because of copyright issues and local laws. A launch in that many markets at once is unusual.)

There are plenty of third-party apps available for iPads, iPhones and devices running Google's Android system. Sinofsky acknowledged that Microsoft's app store will likely be slim at first.

"We know some people might count apps and look for their favourite apps," he said. Hinting at more to come, he added, "We see today as a grand opening."

He said there are hundreds of apps added every day, in 109 languages. He said the Windows store has more apps than any other app store had at its opening.

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11:30 a.m.

Sinofsky said there have been 1,000 PCs certified for Windows 8, with the cheapest costing about $300. There will also be new models of slim, lightweight laptops called ultrabooks.

He reiterated that Windows 8 is designed to work equally well with touch-screen computers and those using keyboard and mouse commands.

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11:25 a.m.

Sinofsky opened by talking about past versions of Windows. He noted that the current version, Windows 7, came out three years ago this week. He said 670 million Windows 7 licenses have been sold since then.

He said that in creating Windows 8, "We shunned the incremental. We boldly reimagined Windows." He said there have been 16 million installations of preview versions of Windows 8.

The software will go on sale at midnight local time around the world.

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11:20 a.m.

Sinofsky appears on stage, which is flanked by 21 Windows 8 devices, ranging from tablet computers to "all-in-one" PCs, which are desktop computers with a built-in screen.

"Windows 8 is a major milestone in the evolution and revolution of computing," Sinofsky declares.